The Knicks Vs Cleveland Cavaliers Timeline took a significant turn on February 24, 2026, when the host Cavaliers delivered a dominant second-half performance at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to win 109-94 and prevent New York from completing a season sweep.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 23 points, James Harden added 20, and Jarrett Allen contributed a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds as the Cavaliers won for the eighth time in their last nine games.
The result left both teams level at 37-22, tied for third place in the Eastern Conference, though New York retained the head-to-head tiebreaker edge heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
Knicks Vs Cleveland Cavaliers Timeline: Quarter-By-Quarter Breakdown
| Quarter | Knicks | Cavaliers | Commentary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | — | — | Competitive opening; Brunson and Mitchell both active early |
| Q2 | — | — | Cleveland build momentum; lead 60-54 at half |
| Half | 54 | 60 | Cavaliers ahead by 6 |
| Q3 | 11 | 23 | Knicks collapse; go 3-of-24 from field |
| Q4 | — | — | Cavs’ largest lead reaches 98-78 |
| Final | 94 | 109 | Cleveland win by 15 |
Third-Quarter Collapse Defines The Contest
Cleveland had a 60-54 halftime advantage before seizing complete control in the third quarter, outscoring New York 23-11 in a twelve-minute stretch that effectively sealed the game.
The Knicks went 3-of-24 from the field in the third quarter, the worst shooting quarter the franchise had recorded since going 3-of-20 in the fourth quarter of a 2018 game against Boston.
New York attempted 12 three-pointers in that third quarter, converting just one, a 1-of-12 clip that exposed a fundamental tactical issue against a Cleveland side that had entered the game ranked fourth-worst in the league at defending the three-point line.
The Cavaliers then went on a 13-2 run bridging the third and fourth quarters, pushing their lead to 98-78 midway through the final period and rendering the last seven minutes of the game inconsequential.
Box Score — February 24, 2026
Cleveland Cavaliers
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | FG% | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donovan Mitchell | 23 | — | — | 11-14 FT | Led all scorers |
| James Harden | 20 | — | 4 | — | 8 pts in Q3 alone |
| Jarrett Allen | 19 | 10 | — | — | Double-double |
| Jaylon Tyson | 12 | — | — | — | — |
| Evan Mobley | 12 | — | — | — | — |
| Dean Wade | 11 | — | — | — | — |
New York Knicks
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Brunson | 20 | — | — | 6-of-15 shooting |
| Mikal Bridges | 18 | — | — | 6-of-21 shooting |
| Mitchell Robinson | 11 | 16 | — | Two blocks, 6 offensive reb |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | — | — | — | Starting lineup |
Team Stats — February 24, 2026
| Stat | Knicks | Cavaliers |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 94 | 109 |
| FG | 35-86 | — |
| FG% | 40.7% | — |
| 3PT | 10-37 | — |
| 3PT% | 27.0% | — |
| Turnovers | 17 | 11 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 11 | 13 |
| Second-Chance Points | 15 | 16 |
| Venue | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse | — |
| Attendance | 19,432 | — |
| Officials | Mitchell Ervin, John Goble, Suyash Mehta | — |
Knicks Vs Cleveland Cavaliers Timeline: All-Time H2H Record (Since 2004)
| Metric | Cavaliers | Knicks |
|---|---|---|
| Total Games | 85 | 85 |
| Wins | 47 | 38 |
| PPG | 102.9 | 101.1 |
| Opp PPG | 101.1 | 102.9 |
2025-26 Season Series
| Date | Venue | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 25, 2025 | Madison Square Garden | Knicks | 126-124 |
| Earlier 2025-26 | — | Knicks | — |
| Feb 24, 2026 | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse | Cavaliers | 109-94 |
The Christmas Day meeting at MSG produced one of the season’s more memorable individual performances, with both Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell scoring 34 points in a two-point New York victory that briefly gave the Knicks a 2-0 lead in the series.
Key Metrics And Tactical Notes
Harden recorded fewer than seven assists for only the first time since joining Cleveland, though his offensive production — 20 points on controlled ball movement — was critical during the decisive third-quarter run.
Bridges and Brunson combined to shoot 12-of-36 from the field on the night, a 33.3% clip that typified New York’s struggles in a game where their primary ball handlers could not find consistent rhythm.
Mitchell Robinson hauled in 16 rebounds in just 19 minutes of action off the bench, providing New York’s most impactful individual defensive and rebounding performance, but the scoreline was already out of reach by the time he found his rhythm.
Six Cavaliers finished in double figures, including all five starters, highlighting the balanced scoring threat that has made Kenny Atkinson’s team one of the Eastern Conference’s most consistent units in 2025-26.
The Cavaliers held an opponent under 100 points for just the seventh time all season, a sign that their defensive capabilities remain a work in progress even as their results continue to trend upward through the final stretch of the regular season.